Tests are taken by all grades from 3rd though 9th grade, but the subjects vary by the grade year. In 3rd, 4th and 7th grades, the students are given tests in mathematics and reading. In the 5th and 8th grades, students are tested in mathematics, science and reading. In the 6th grade, students are tested in reading, mathematics and social studies. Students in the 9th grade are tested in only social studies.
The MEAP test is not just a fill-in-the-bubble test. There are multiple-choice questions, short essay questions and long essay questions included in the test. The scoring is also given in levels rather than percentages, with students ranked in categories such as Proficient, Novice and Not Yet Novice.
The MEAP test used to be given in the 11th and 12th grades as well, but was replaced in 2007 by the MME (Michigan Merit Exam). The MME is taken by 11th graders, and is also used to determine eligibility for state-funded scholarships.